Has this vertical farm cracked the code for sustainable farming?

Vertical farming appears to becoming a feature of the agricultural landscape, with this BBC piece looking at a facility in Gloucestershire that is growing salad crops three times faster under temperature-controlled conditions.

There's lots of economics here, not least sustainability, but more widely you might think about how cost-effective such a form of agriculture might be.

Background: What is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is a method of growing crops in vertically stacked layers, often in controlled indoor environments, using hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, or other non-soil methods of cultivation. Vertical farms can be designed to grow a wide range of plants, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even certain types of grains or legumes. Here are some key aspects of vertical farming:

• Controlled environment: Vertical farms are typically enclosed in buildings or greenhouses, allowing for precise control of light, temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors to optimize plant growth and productivity.
• Energy efficiency: Vertical farms can be designed to use artificial lighting, such as LED or fluorescent lights, which can be more energy-efficient than traditional outdoor farming, and can be powered by renewable energy sources.
• Space efficiency: Vertical farms can produce high yields of crops per square foot, as plants can be grown vertically in layers and stacked on top of each other, using the available space more efficiently than traditional farming methods.
• Reduced transportation costs: Vertical farms can be located close to urban areas, reducing the transportation and storage costs associated with bringing fresh produce from rural areas to urban centers.